Iran and Cuba on Monday reiterated their desire to cooperate more closely to counter American sanctions against the two countries, marking the first visit of a Cuban president to Tehran in 22 years.
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“What can neutralize the impact of sanctions is the exchange of capabilities between the two countries,” said Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi during a statement with his counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel, the day before after attending the UN climate action in Tehran conference (COP28) in Dubai.
“There is a strong determination to strengthen relations” between Iran and Cuba, whose “common point is that they oppose the system of rule organized by the United States,” he added, while Mr. Diaz-Canel called out the “American Imperialism” was blamed for this.
The two presidents approved seven cooperation agreements in the areas of health, agriculture, technology and mining.
Cuba has been under an embargo since 1962 and, like Iran, is on the American list of countries supporting terrorism and is subject to strict sanctions, particularly related to the nuclear issue.
Cuba is experiencing its worst economic crisis since the end of Soviet subsidies in the 1990s and is suffering from shortages of food, medicine and fuel. Iranians, for their part, face high inflation.
The last visit by a Cuban president to Iran was that of Fidel Castro in 2001, while Mr. Raïssi was welcomed in Havana in June, the final stop of a tour of “friendly countries” in Latin America, particularly Venezuela.